Leonen Appointed Acting Chief Justice of Philippine Supreme Court

THE Supreme Court (SC) confirmed that Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen will serve as acting chief justice pending the appointment of a new head of the court. “[P]ending the appointment of a new chief justice, Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen will serve as acting chief justice,” SC spokesperson Camille Sue Mae L. Ting said in a statement on Tuesday. Mr. Leonen, as the most senior associate justice, will exercise the duties and powers of the chief justice under Section 12 of Republic Act No. 296, or the Judiciary Act of 1948, Ms. Ting said. The law provides the most senior associate justice will perform those functions when the position is vacant until a new chief justice is appointed and qualified. The vacancy will arise when Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70 in November. The Constitution gives 90 days to fill a vacancy in the Supreme Court. “The President appoints the chief justice from a list of nominees prepared by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC),” Ms. Ting said. The JBC has earlier invited the five most senior associate justices to apply for the post. Aside from Mr. Leonen, the invited magistrates are Associate Justices Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa, Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Henri Jean Paul B. Inting and Rodil V. Zalameda. The JBC opened applications and nominations on Aug. 29, with submissions due on Oct. 13. The appointment will be President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s first selection for chief justice and his second appointment to the high court, following his sole appointment of Associate Justice Raul B. Villanueva in 2025. — Mark Joseph M. Sanchez